Invasive day-biting mosquito has turned up in Los Gatos; county asks residents to empty standing water this fall

Cooler weather has not ended mosquito season in Santa Clara County, officials warned Friday, and the species they are most worried about has already been found next door in Los Gatos.

In a county news release, officials asked residents to help keep Aedes aegypti from settling in permanently. The invasive mosquito bites during the day and can carry dengue and Zika, diseases that are not usually spread in the United States, the county said.

Since 2024 the mosquito has been detected at many sites in the county, among them Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Gatos, San Jose and the city of Santa Clara, according to the release. The Santa Clara County Mosquito and Vector Control District has stepped up surveillance, treatment and outreach, but the county said the district cannot wipe the insect out without help from residents.

Why fall still counts

Most mosquitoes go quiet as temperatures drop. This one can hang on until winter begins as long as daytime highs reach roughly 60 degrees, the county said.

It is known as a container breeder because it prefers to lay eggs in small, human-made pools of water: buckets, pet bowls, fountains, bird baths, plant pots and their saucers, and old tires. Its eggs can last as long as a year in dry conditions, which is why the county asks people to do more than tip containers over.

What residents are asked to do

Empty standing water from outdoor containers such as pet dishes and plant saucers, then scrub them clean with hot soapy water or bleach mixed with water so no eggs are left behind.
Report mosquitoes that bite during the day to the vector control district at 408-918-4770, and give the street address, or the closest intersection, where the insect was spotted or where someone was bitten.
In neighborhoods where the mosquito has been found, allow the district's licensed staff to check yards for places where eggs could be laid.

The district's invasive mosquito page at vector.santaclaracounty.gov has more on the species and on removing eggs.

Sources

news.santaclaracounty.gov

vector.santaclaracounty.gov

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